Russia conducts mobilization exercises amid expectations of prolonged war

Reports indicate that Russian authorities are conducting mobilization exercises and testing logistics to prepare for a potential draft following the September parliamentary elections. Training activities have been reported in areas such as the Kaliningrad region, focusing on equipping, housing, and supplying new conscripts.

Although Moscow has not formally announced a new call-up, rising recruitment costs for contract soldiers and battlefield losses continue to pressure military capacity. Western analysts suggest a new mobilization could support planned offensives against Ukrainian strongholds such as Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, with high-intensity combat expected to persist through at least 2027. Legal mechanisms and a digital military registry are already in place to facilitate a draft if ordered.

Sources: Belsat, NEXTA, The Insider.